Galicia and Northern Portugal Strengthen Social Economy with New Initiatives in 2025
Galicia and Northern Portugal advance social economy development through cross-border accelerator programs and local economic agendas promoting social entrepreneurship and inclusive growth.
- • Xunta Impulsa accelerator evaluates ten social economy projects with cross-border cooperation.
- • ES-Factory is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under Interreg VI A Spain-Portugal.
- • Pontedeume presents its Local Agenda for Social Economy focusing on sustainable development.
- • Key figures emphasize social economy as a driver for territorial development and job creation.
Key details
On December 17, 2025, significant progress was made in the social economy sector of Galicia and Northern Portugal through key initiatives aimed at fostering social entrepreneurship and sustainable local development. In Galicia, Marta Mariño, Director General of Self-Employment and Social Economy, revealed that the Xunta Impulsa accelerator is currently evaluating social economy projects. This program, part of the ES-Factory cross-border cooperation initiative, will provide specialized training and mentorship to ten selected projects at the Polo de emprendemento in Vilanova de Arousa. Co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the Interreg VI A Spain-Portugal program, ES-Factory also held an Observatory meeting addressing shared challenges such as gender equality, rural opportunities, and governance in cross-border contexts.
Simultaneously, Pontedeume municipality publicly launched its Local Agenda for Social Economy at the Casa da Cultura, setting a clear roadmap toward sustainable local economic transformation. The agenda, stemming from the INNSOCIAL project funded by the Spanish Government’s Second Vice Presidency and the Ministry of Labor and Social Economy, focuses on promoting social entrepreneurship, strengthening associative networks, and endorsing public procurement tools. Mayor Bernardo Fernández underlined that this agenda aims to leverage local talent and create new employment and service opportunities. Key participants included Julio Abaldes, subdelegate of the Government in A Coruña, and Maite Cancelo, director of CECOOP at the University of Santiago de Compostela, who emphasized collaborative efforts and the social economy’s role in territorial development.
Together, these initiatives mark important collaborative steps in promoting an inclusive, socially driven economy between Galicia and Northern Portugal, reflecting a shared commitment to regional cohesion and innovation.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
